What type of element is the span tag used for in web design?

The span tag is an inline HTML element primarily used to apply styles or attributes to a specific portion of text or other inline elements within a block of content. It can be utilized to target a specific section for styling purposes, such as changing the font color, size, or applying CSS classes or JavaScript functions without disrupting the flow of the surrounding content.

This flexibility allows for more precise control over the design of the webpage, making the span tag especially valuable for enhancing the aesthetic appeal or functionality of specific text segments without creating additional semantic meaning. This distinguishes it from other elements that serve different purposes, such as creating hyperlinks, grouping block-level elements, or defining sections of a webpage.